Miniature rose plant named `Ruimats`

ABSTRACT

A distinctive cultivar of miniature rose plant named `Ruimats`, characterized by its very large dark orange/red flowers with numerous petals; dark green leaves; vigorous growth habit; strong rooting habit; exceptional postproduction longevity; and excellent garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theminiature rose class, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Ruimats. The new cultivar will bemarketed under the trade name Optima Orange.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop pot rose varieties with novel andattractive flower colors and excellent postproduction longevity andgarden performance. The new cultivar originated from a cross made by theinventor in 1992 of two unnamed proprietary seedlings. The cultivarRuimats was discovered and selected by the inventor as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inHazerswoude, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings taken atHazerswoude, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew miniature rose plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Ruimats`. These characteristics incombination distinguish the new miniature rose plant as a new anddistinct cultivar:

1. Very large dark orange/red flowers with numerous petals.

2. Dark green leaves.

3. Vigorous growth habit.

4. Strong rooting habit.

5. Exceptional postproduction longevity.

6. Excellent garden performance.

The new miniature rose plant has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature and light level, without,however, any variance in genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate typical specimens of thevegetative growth and flowers of the new miniature rose plant, showingthe colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in coloredreproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a top perspective view of atypical plant of the new miniature rose plant grown in. Hazerswoude, TheNetherlands.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises details of the newminiature rose plant. In this photograph the apex of a young shoot (1);a leaf with three leaflets (2); a leaf with five leaflets (3); a leafwith seven leaflets (4); a stem without leaves (5); a flower bud aftersepals open (6); a flower bud after petals begin to unfurl (7); a flowerone-half open (8); and a flower fully open (9); a flower stem withsepals, stamens and pistils (10); a flower stem with sepals and pistils(11); and a flower stem with pistils only (12) are shown. Flower andfoliage color in these photographs may appear different from the actualcolors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands, under glasscovering with average day temperatures of 20° C., average nighttemperatures of 16° to 18° C., and an average light level of 2,000J/cm².

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rosa hybrida cultivar Ruimats.

Commercial.--Miniature pot rose.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Unnamed proprietary seedling.

Female or seed parent.--Unnamed proprietary seedling.

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal or stem cuttings.

Time to rooting.--8 to 10 days with soil temperatures of 20° C.

Rooting habit.--Propagates easily, roots strong and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.--Rounded form, uniform, and spreading.

Growth habit.--Vigorous. Freely branching and dense growth. Suitable for12-cm and larger containers. Time to produce a finished plant in a 12-cmcontainer 20 to 30 cm in height and 15 to 20 cm in width is generally 12to 14 weeks depending on average temperature, light level, and culturalpractices.

Stem and lateral branches.--Quantity of lateral branches from pinching:Typically three. Length of lateral branches: 1 to 5 cm. Diameter oflateral branches: 1 to 2 mm. Internode length: 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Color:137B.

Foliage description.--Leaves arranged alternately, compound with threeto seven leaflets per leaf, generally symmetrical, abundant, and flat inaspect. Stipules at petiole base. Quantity of leaves: Five to eight perlateral branch. Leaflet length: 2.5 to 3.5 cm. Leaflet width: About 1.6cm. Shape: Ovate with acute apex and obtuse base. Margin: Serrate.Texture: Smooth and leathery. Petiole length: 1.5 to 2 cm. Petiolediameter: About 1 mm. Color: Young foliage, upper side: 137C. Youngfoliage, under side: 137D with narrow, 60B, margins. Mature foliage,upper side: 137A with 60B margins. Reddish margins more obvious onplants exposed to high light conditions. Mature foliage, under side:137B. Petiole: 138B.

Prickles.--Sparse. Length: About 1 mm. Color: 138D.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Very large dark orange/red flowers with numerouspetals. Consistently symmetrical rosette flowers that are flat inaspect. Freely and continuously flowering. The flowers are borne singlyon peduncles with usually one to two flowers per lateral stem. Petalspersistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions, optimalflowering from spring through autumn under garden conditions.

Flower diameter.--About 4 cm.

Flower depth (height).--About 1.4 cm.

Flower longevity on plant.--About 25 days.

Fragrance.--Absent.

Flower buds.--Shape: Ovoid. Length: 0.6 to 2 cm. Diameter: 5 to 8 mm.Color: 137C.

Petals.--Quantity: 40 to 50 per flower. Typically eight or ten rows withfive petals each. Length: About 2 cm. Width: 1 to 1.8 cm. Shape: Roundedwith obtuse apex. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth and satiny. Color:Upper side, when opening: 45A at apex, 44A at center, white at base.Under side, when opening: 45B with white at base. Upper side, fullyopened: 44B with white at base. Under side, fully opened: 44C with whiteat base. Fade: Flower color does not fade.

Petaloids.--Quantity: About 15 per flower. Arrangement: About three rowsof five petaloids. Length: 0.8 to 1.2 cm. Width: 4 to 7 mm. Margin:Entire. Texture: Smooth and satiny. Color: Immature: 44B with whitestripe. Mature: 44B with white base.

Sepals.--Quantity: Typically five per flower. Shape: Narrowly ovate withacute tip. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Upper side: 144A with 144B atbase. Under side: 137A at apex with 137C at center and 144B at base.

Calyx.--Length 6 to 7 mm. Diameter: 5 to 6 mm. Shape: Funnel.

Peduncles.--Strength: High. Aspect: Erect. Length: 2 to 4.5 cm. Color:137C.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Quantity: 60 to 70 per flower. Anthersize: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: 22B. Pistils:Quantity: About 20 per flower. Style length: 8 to 9 mm. Style color:145C.

Disease resistance: Plants appear to be relatively tolerant to PowderyMildew.

Seed production: Seed production is rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct miniature rose plant named`Ruimats`, as illustrated and described.